WINNING THE SURREY WAY
Five years after the Maynard tragedy, Batty’s men are back
The road to recovery has been long and painful for England’s biggest county but Surrey are finally poised to honour the memory of Tom Maynard by regaining their place at the very top of domestic cricket.
The tragic death five years ago of a young cricketer seemingly destined for a highly successful career will never be forgotten at a county embedded in the twin traditions of winning trophies and producing England players.
But now, after five years of mainly hurt, Surrey are top of t he formative County Championship table after two matches and begin t heir Royal London One-Day Cup campaign against Somerset on Friday with captain Gareth Batty confident that they are back on the right path.
‘ It took more time than expected and that is a reflection of the pivotal role Tom was playing in the way we were developing,’ said Batty. ‘So in some ways it’s nice that it has taken us so long to challenge again because it reflects so well on Tom’s role within the group.
‘It’s taken this long for us to get to where the core of the club is Surrey and want the best for Surrey. And because of our financial strength we can recruit people like Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick from Durham, who would be wonderful signings for any team.
‘It’s great we can sign fine, ready- made players, but they’re coming into a Surrey environment where things have been done a certain way and hopefully will continue that way for generations.
‘I see that as my greatest responsibility. Even though we have the financial power to bring people in, they have to value the brown cap and everything that goes with it. They understand this isn’t any old club, this is Surrey and this is how we do things.’
At the centre of that is the impressive 39-year-old captain, who had to rally the club when, in the terrible aftermath of the accident that killed Maynard, his close friend Rory Hamilton-Brown gave up the leadership.
Batty was briefly captain when Hamilton-Brown resigned and then took over when the short-lived reign of Graeme Smith was ended by serious injury. He considers himself a Surrey product — despite having started with his native Yorkshire and playing for seven years at Worcester — and he epitomises the values he wants to see in his charges.
‘We won’t walk around with a swagger for the sake of it,’ said Batty. ‘It’s about being confident, yes, but holding yourself in the right way and I certainly feel that over the last 18 months or so the perception of us has changed.
‘People know that we want to do things properly and we’ re trying to be good human beings as well as win games of cricket.’
Batty’s England career is almost certainly over, despite his return to Test cricket after an 11- year absence for the winter tours of Bangladesh and India.
Sadly, that fairytale did not have the happiest of endings as the off-spinner played just two Tests with modest results. But his call-up was a triumph for his enduring skills, determination and passion, including the competitive edge that sometimes got him into trouble but which defines his approach to the game.
‘ I had about four or five years when I said to myself, “If you get a wicket don’t do anything,” but I couldn’t. It just comes out. I was embarrassed about it for a while but I’ve realised that I can’t stop so I just get on with it. I’m a bad loser but I like to think that as time has gone on I now lose in the correct manner.’
Surrey looked poised for great things before the Maynard tragedy changed everything but now, after being beaten finalists in the last two Royal London finals, they are ready to start winning again. Their adopted Yorkshireman wants nothing more.
‘The accent and birthplace don’t suggest I’m a product of Surrey but from the day I walked into the gates at the Oval I’ve felt like one. I guess it’s a love affair.’